The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched its Youth in Business programme in Türkiye, building on its success in 12 other countries. The initiative aims to mobilise up to €250 million in financing to support young entrepreneurs under 35.
Backed by the Turkish government and the European Union (EU), the programme offers financial support, expertise, and business development services to address key challenges faced by young entrepreneurs, such as limited access to funding, experience, and market information.
According to the Bank, Türkiye faces persistently high youth unemployment, and the EBRD sees fostering youth-led businesses as a catalyst for economic growth. The programme will channel financing, technical assistance, and risk-sharing tools through local partner banks, which will then lend to youth-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The Youth in Business programme is currently active in Central Asia, Egypt, Morocco and the Western Balkans, and is designed to make financing more accessible for businesses.
A major focus of the initiative is to aid economic recovery in regions hit by the February 2023 earthquakes, with 70% of the programme's funding set to support businesses in those areas.
At the launch event in Istanbul, Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director for Financial Institutions, highlighted the programme’s rapid growth since its 2021 debut in Egypt, expanding to a €1 billion initiative across 12 countries.
“Türkiye’s greatest asset is its youth,” he said. “We believe this programme will thrive among the country’s dynamic and resilient young entrepreneurs.”
The launch also marked the commitment of initial Turkish banking partners, with Akbank, Şekerbank, and TEB joining the programme.
Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights for almost sixty years, and...
The head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, Rashad al-Alimi, has ordered all forces linked to the United Arab Emirates to leave Yemen within 24 hours....
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 30th of December, covering the latest developments you need to...
Türkiye and Armenia have agreed to ease visa procedures for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports, marking another step in their ongoi...
In 2025, climate talks, security negotiations and trade diplomacy defined a year of high-level summits. Leaders met across continents to confront conf...
Türkiye and Armenia have agreed to ease visa procedures for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports, marking another step in their ongoing normalisation process.
Armenia’s foreign minister has said it is time for Yerevan and Ankara to move from dialogue to concrete action in their long-stalled efforts to normalise relations, signalling that a symbolic breakthrough could come before the end of the year.
Türkiye on Sunday denied reports that a Turkish Airlines passenger flight diverted from Libya due to fears of retaliation following a Libyan military delegation plane crash near Ankara.
In south-eastern Türkiye, where strawberries were once dismissed as impossible to grow, one farmer has proved otherwise.
Brigitte Bardot, the French actress whose barefoot mambo in And God Created Woman propelled her to international fame and reshaped female sexuality on screen, has died at the age of 91, her foundation said on Sunday.
Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire and former Chelsea Football Club owner, has assembled a “top tier” legal team, including a former White House advisor, as he prepares for a legal battle in Jersey.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Sunday praised the country’s armed forces as “invincible warriors” during a year-end ceremony honouring the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, held in the coastal city of La Guaira.
Iran successfully launched three satellites on Sunday using a Russian Soyuz rocket from Russia’s Far East, marking the latest stage in growing Iran-Russia space cooperation.
Türkiye on Sunday denied reports that a Turkish Airlines passenger flight diverted from Libya due to fears of retaliation following a Libyan military delegation plane crash near Ankara.
China has given the nod for car makers to sell Level 3 self-driving vehicles from as early as next year after it approved two electric sedans from Changan Auto and BAIC Motors.
Warner Bros Discovery’s board rejected Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile bid on Wednesday (17 December), citing insufficient financing guarantees.
Ford Motor Company said on Monday it will take a $19.5 billion writedown and scrap several electric vehicle (EV) models, marking a major retreat from its battery-powered ambitions amid declining EV demand and changes under the Trump administration.
Iran has rolled out changes to how fuel is priced at the pump. The move is aimed at managing demand without triggering public anger.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment